Diverge

• #18: Returning to the Roots of the Cape Epic Route

  This week, on the Diverge Podcast, we look at the 2026Absa Cape Epic route, which was launched on the 9th of October, and the 2025 Prince George Monumental 100-Miler. The 692-kilometre-long course is the longest since 2015, when the route last topped the 700-kilometre mark. 15 900metres of climbing across that distance equates to 22.98 metres of climbing per kilometre, which is the least since 2018. It also features the first visit to Montagu, in the Klein Karoo, since 2007. In short, the stages are as follows: PROLOGUE Sunday, 15 March 2026Meerendal Wine Estate20km with 650m of climbing STAGE 1 Monday, 16 March 2026Montagu90km with 2 150m of climbing STAGE 2 Tuesday, 17 March 2026Montagu102km with 2 250m of climbing  STAGE 3 Wednesday, 18 March 2026Montagu to Greyton134km with 1 750m of climbing  STAGE 4 Thursday, 19 March 2026Greyton84km with 1 950m of climbing  STAGE 5 Friday, 20 March 2026Greyton to Stellenbosch128km with 2 700m of climbing  STAGE 6 Saturday, 21 March 2026Stellenbosch76km with 2 450m of climbing  STAGE 7 Sunday, 22 March 2026Stellenbosch58km with 2 000m of climbing  See where you can pre-ride on the Cape Epic routes byvisiting www.montagutrails.co.za, www.greytonmtb.co.za, and www.stellenboschtrailfund.co.za. To read the full and official route descriptions, as well as more news from thebroader South African endurance sport industry, visit Diverge.info:2026 Cape Epic Route – A return to the Roots Follow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X, and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

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• #17: Reflecting on the Cape Pioneer

  Last week, the Diverge Podcast was at the Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen. We tried to do daily podcasts, but fell off the wagon after Stage 2. So here are the final 3 days all in one long pod. The headline, of course, is that Tristan Nortje and Travis Stedman won the men’s race overall, after winning atop Swartberg Pass on Friday’s Queen Stage. Vera Looser and Samantha Sanders dominated the women’s race, winning all 5 stages and the overall by 42 minutes. Stage 3 was a transition stage from Louvain to Oudtshoorn. Traditionally, it had been a longer but less intense stage, thanks to long gravel road sections in the route. In 2025, that was not the case! Dryland took the riders across the Klein Karoo on a course consisting of 85% rocky dual track, with just a few short gravel sections. Arno du Toit punctured and spent the day chasing with Keagan Bontekoning to defend Insect Science’s third position on the general classification. There was further drama in the UCI Women’s race when Steph Wohlters crashed, which later caused her and Sarah Hill to lose time in their battle for second in the overall standings.Stage 4 was the Swartberg Showdown, the Queen Stage of the Cape Pioneer. Victories for Toyota Imbuko Specialized ChemChamp, and Efficient Infiniti Insure all but guaranteed that they would take home the titles. But there was still action aplenty on the trails, too.The final stage offered another opportunity for Jaedon Terlouw and Michael Foster to race to stage-winning redemption after their puncture problems on Stages 1 and 4. Behind the leaders on the day, Nortje and Stedman countered the moves of Marc Pritzen and Wessel Botha to take home the 2025 title. While in the UCI Women’s race, Looser and Sanders put the hammer down and stretched their legs, securing a fifth stage win and the overall crown in style.To read more news from the Race with Soul and beyond in the broader South Africa’s endurance sport industry, visit Diverge.info:Honeycomb 226ers Sprint to Stage 3 Victory at the Cape PioneerVictories in Yellow and Pink atop the Swartberg at the Cape PioneerChampions Crowned at the Cape Pioneer Grand FinaleFollow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X, and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

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• #16: Redemption for PYGA Euro Steel at the Cape Pioneer

  This week, the Diverge Podcast is at the Momentum MedicalScheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen. Tune in for daily reports and interviews from the race. After losing time with a catastrophic rear wheel puncture on Stage 1, the PYGA Euro Steel Team of Jaedon Terlouw and Michael Foster earned a redemption of sorts by winning Stage 2. In the general classification battle, the Honeycomb 226ers, Marc Pritzen and Wessel Botha, gained back 30 seconds to reduce Toyota Imbuko Specialized ChemChamp’s advantage to 3 minutes and 36 seconds overall. Tristan Nortje and Travis Stedman will wear the yellow First Ascent leaders’ jerseys on Stage 3. In the UCI Women’s race, Vera Looser and Samantha Sandersnotched up their second stage victory, while Safari Essence Titan Racing and Efficient Infiniti Insure battled it out for second. Bianca Haw and Danielle du Toit gained back 69 seconds on the day, but remain 1 minute and 57 seconds behind Sarah Hill and Steph Wohlters. To read more news from the Race with Soul and beyond inthe broader South Africa’s endurance sport industry, visit Diverge.info:Redemption for PYGA Euro Steel and Efficient Infiniti Double Up at the Cape Pioneer Follow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X, and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

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• #15: Nortje and Stedman Draw First Blood in Cape Pioneer Showdown

  This week, the Diverge Podcast is at the Momentum MedicalScheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen. Tune in for daily reports and interviews from the race. In the opening show, we recap a thrilling and challenging Stage 1, which was won by Toyota Imbuko Specialized ChemChamp and Efficient Infiniti Insure. Tristan Nortje and Travis Stedman were thrown together by circumstance, but with three wins and two more podium places between them in September, they were the form pairing coming into the race. Vera Looser and Samantha Sanders started less sure of their fitness, as Sanders had been off the bike for nearly three months with a serious injury. Nonetheless, the African and South African champion pairing was able to dominate the opening day.  To read more news from the Race with Soul and beyond inthe broader South Africa’s endurance sport industry, visit Diverge.info:Nortje and Stedman Draw First Blood in Race with Soul Showdown Follow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X, and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

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• #14: Stedman Races to the Sea

  In Episode 14 of Season 2, the Diverge Podcast recaps a thrilling fifth edition of the King Price Race to the Sea, discusses the reasons to ride the Glacier Storms River Traverse in 2026, and looks at the Pedal Project’s 2025 Dream Bike raffle prize. At the Race to the Sea, the men’s race was a closely contested affair with Tavis Stedman launching his sprint 200 metres from the line to outbox Tristan Nortje, having whittled down the final selection from four to three and then just the Toyota Specialized and Imbuko ChemChamp pair. Hayley Preen, meanwhile, had used her superior technical skills to out-descend Catherine Colyn 20 kilometres from the Benguela Cove finish line before soloing to her second Race to the Sea title. Looking ahead, the Storms River Traverse is always one of our favourite events. It is not particularly racy, but that adds to its charm. If three days of fun in the Tsitsikamma Forests, with a bit of mountain biking thrown in, sounds like your idea of a good time – check it out.  And finally, it’s that time of year again when the Pedal Project stages its Dream Bike raffle. With all the proceeds going to the charity’s Trail Therapy programme for historically disadvantaged young people from Khayelitsha and Nomzamo. For every two R150 raffle tickets sold, the charity can present a child with an hour of trail therapy. The bike in question is a custom-painted painted, by Hasie and the Robots, Titan Racing Cypher DC Carbon Version 2 with FOX suspension, Shimano XTR drivetrain, South Industries carbon wheels, and Lyne Components cockpit and dropper seatpost. To read more news from South Africa’s endurance sport industry, visit Diverge.info:Stedman and Preen Crowned King Price Race to the Sea ChampionsBook Your Spot for Forest Fun at the 2026 Glacier Storms River Traverse Enter the Pedal Project Dream Bike Raffle  Follow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X, and Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.

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